Feb. 15, 2013
Fr. Anthony Brankin
The following commentary was made by Fr. Brankin about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI by a layman who asked, “Am I the only one who sees this as an act that reduces the throne of Peter to an appointment and not a calling to the charism of the Holy Spirit?” (Father’s comment comes from a column by Matt Abbott on Renew America.)
I cannot see it that way. I cannot help but think the pope did the most humble act he could have ever done: admitting to the whole world that he is too frail (and maybe even dying) to do the job the Church needs done. I think he is afraid; not for himself, but for the Church he loves. He is afraid perhaps that as he gets older, he will miss that which cannot be missed; that he will forget that which cannot be forgotten; that he will unavoidably let the Church be hurt by those who have no scruples or compunction about hurting Jesus.
It is a fine thing to say he should let his last suffering be a magnificent statement to the Church, but what if that last suffering is not so dramatic but instead more prosaic and lasts 10 or 15 years? What if it is simply not the case that he will heroically show the world how nobly he can die? What if it is more likely that modern medicine will allow him to survive a little longer? Live, yes, but only as a shell of his former self, unable to do nearly enough.
Then watch the wolves! Watch the toadies, the wise-guys and wastrels make their moves on the Body of Christ. They will have smelled blood and it will not be pretty. Pope Benedict XVI loves the Church too much not to want to best those who hate her – and I think he did just that.